Purified astroglial and enriched neuronal cultures were grown in 6 well plates at an approximate density of 1
x 10 5 cells per well. Cell or tissues were lysed in an ATPase/GTPase activity assay kit buffer, and free phosphate was measured as according to manufacturer's instructions (ATPase/GTPase activity assay kit, Cat.
MAK113-1KT, Sigma). Ouabain (3 mM, Cat. 1076, Tocris) was added and NKA-specific ATPase activity was calculated as a difference between Ouabain and vehicle-treated samples. When whole-tissue lysates were processed, FK506 (200 nM) was added together with Ouabain. For determination of NKA ATPase activity in astroglial and neuronal cultures, FK506 was added to culture medium (200 nM) 24 h prior lysate preparation.
Data are expressed as pmol of consumed inorganic phosphate per μg of total proteins per minute of reaction (pmol/μg/min).